Te Āti Hau Trust Chair Report

Tēnā kautau i roto i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā.

I am honoured to present, on behalf of Te Āti Hau Trust, the annual report for the 2022/2023 financial year.

It has been a busy year where we have continued to support our whānau to reach their potential, so that, in turn, they can help bring vitality and capability to our wider whānau and communities.

Educational grants remain a key way pūtea is distributed by the Trust, but we have been delighted to see an increase in the number of applications from our kaumātua and have a new approach to supporting our marae that will better meet their needs and requirements.

As a Trust, we will continue to review and evaluate our processes and strategic focus to lift the efficiency and effectiveness of how we help our people, guided by our principles of mātauranga (education), kotahitanga (unity of purpose), manaakitanga (nurture and reciprocate), whanaungatanga (collaboration), tiakitanga (active stewardship), mana tūpuna (legitimacy) and te reo (identity).

Kaumātua Grants

The change to processing applications from our kaumātua every month from a quarterly cycle has been well received, with 157 grants totalling $124,874 being approved. Being able to approve health and wellness grants, such as dental work, hearing and optical aids in a timely manner means our elderly can access the items they need more quickly, to live more comfortable lives.

We would encourage any kaumātua who have any specific health or wellbeing requirements to reach out to us so we can help align need to criteria and provide support.

Marae Grants

In order to help support marae with their project planning and operational costs, the Trust is now providing 47 marae across the rohe with a grant on a three-year cycle. Marae groups can also apply for a one-off grant to fund a specific infrastructure project at any time. This year, ten marae received grants totalling $59,000.

In total the Trust distributed $333,527 in General Grants during the year.

Educational Grants

The migration of the application process for all educational grants to a centralised portal hasn’t been without its challenges, but solutions have been identified and we are looking forward to some site and process enhancements in 2024 to help improve the experience of uri.

We encourage potential recipients to ensure they submit a full application to achieve the best possible outcome. Please do reach out for assistance with your application –we are happy to help.

In total, the Trust awarded $74,950 in 161 separate grants to those attending tertiary education, as well as a further $12,750 to support 51 high schoolers in their academic studies. Trust tertiary scholarships were also awarded, to the value of $11,000.

The Trust is also keen to help those who are following a trades apprenticeship pathway, and this year seven trades grants were approved to a total of $4,900. In all, $103,600 in Educational Grants was distributed.

Governance and Strategic Direction

The Trust is fortunate to have Dr Te Tiwha Puketapu, Chair of Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation, and Che Wilson, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, join myself, Jonelle Hiroti-Kinane and Claire Cilliers (independent trustees), Tukariri Dryden (associate trustee) and Charles Chadwick (associate director), around the Trust table this past year.

It has meant we have been able to reset and realign our focus and strategic approach with those of our parent Incorporation, boost understanding of the role the Trust plays in achieving the desired outcomes for the Āti Hau Group, and work together for the benefit of our whānau.

We will continue to seek opportunities to build partnerships with businesses, groups and organisations, which help leverage what we can provide to our uri and whānau. Our relationship with the Māori Education Trust is one example of the benefits this type of relationship can bring, with additional funding helping boost the value of our educational grants and scholarships that Te Āti Hau Trust approves. Te Herenga Waka Victoria University’s Taihonoa strategic partnership approach also enables students receiving grants from the Trust to be awarded extra pūtea.

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the mahi of my fellow Trustees, and that of the Trust members who stood down last year (Shar Amner, Mavis Mullins and Aaron Rice-Edwards), for their considered and valuable input into the way the Trust is administered.

I also acknowledge the ongoing support of Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation and thank the Committee of Management for their leadership and guidance.

Ngā mihi

Dr Rāwiri Tinirau - Te Āti Hau Trust, Tiamana